When you think about emergencies, you may think of calling 911 or an ambulance and people waiting at the doorway to guide folks to the emergency room. Some dental emergencies are fairly routine, while others can be severe. Here are some guidelines for when to go directly to the emergency room or when to call our dentist.
If There Is a Lot of Blood
One of the most serious dental emergencies occurs when there is a lot of blood in your mouth. Usually, this happens when one of your teeth is avulsed (knocked out). You can also have a lot of blood if your tooth is partially knocked out and it cuts your lip, cheek, or gums. This is one of the times you need to give our dentist a call because we will need to stop the blood flow and check the tooth as well.
If you have a facial injury in addition to injuries to the teeth and gums, you may need to go to the emergency room first. For example, you may have a severe facial cut that must get stitches or an exposed bone that has to be taken care of first.
If You Are Running a Fever and You Have Facial Swelling
Both facial swelling and fever are signs of an abscessed tooth or an infection. You may also have severe pain in your teeth and gums. This is another time you need to give our office a call so that we can begin to treat the infection as soon as possible. However, if your fever is very high, over 104 degrees, you may need to go to the emergency room first to make sure you do not have another problem that is not dental.
What Other Signs Should I Look For?
There are other signs of a dental emergency you can look out for. If you are in severe pain in one or more of your teeth, you should call us. Also, if you lose one or more of your restorative dental equipment, such as a crown or a bridge, it is time to call our dental office.
Are you unsure if you have a dental emergency? We can help. Call our office if you have a question about dental emergencies.
When you think about emergencies, you may think of calling 911 or an ambulance and people waiting at the doorway to guide folks to the emergency room. Some dental emergencies are fairly routine, while others can be severe. Here are some guidelines for when to go directly to the emergency room or when to call our dentist. 
